Death Whispers

Chapter Two - Initiation

Rosier Manor, 3rd November 1976

"He got eighteen O.W.L.s last year, he's pureblood and Slytherin," Ivan Rosier whined to his father and Marcus Mulciber. They were dining in plush seats in the living room after going to a Death Eater meeting. Ivan was trying to get his best friend Severus Snape initiated as a Death Eater. Ivan had been priming him for two years, and having joined the ranks himself last summer (the summer before starting sixth year) he wanted his friend to join him before Christmas.

"He can brew Veritaserum, Congrutious, and Hetraious already," Ivan continued. "Not to mention use all three Unforgivables and he knows more Dark Arts hexes than anyone else."

"Veritaserum?" asked Mulciber impressed.

Ivan nodded excitedly, "Oh, since second year. We found out the funniest things about Avery. Did you know he admitted to having a crush on Lily Evans, a mudblood! And, he is terrified of caterpillars, thinks they have too many legs, we have been putting them in his bed ever since, he also said that......" Ivan trailed off as he was caught in his father's glare.

"It's not that I doubt his ability," his father drawled, "in fact, the boy is far too valuable to pass up. That's why we have to wait until he is ready. The Snapes have always remained a problem since their run-in with the Blacks. They have no money - and our attempts at getting Ureic Snape to join have been futile, the man's rarely sober enough to stand, let alone draw a wand."

Rissum Rosier was one of the Death Eaters in charge of recruitment for the Dark Lord. Voldemort had infiltrated most of Wizarding Europe, the years of his assent had been filled with fear and panic. Now with Britian in his stranglehold the environment for the average wizard was one of absolute terror. However, the Rosier's and other Dark Arts Families were having the time of their lives. Dinner parties, spots of Muggle torture, lives of power and money.

"Oh, he's ready," Ivan nodded, his voice turning serious, "last week he put the Cruciatus on that family turncoat Sirius Black."

His father's fork clattered to the table. Mulciber looked over the table excitedly caught up in Ivan's enthusiasm.

"Really?" Mulciber asked.

"Yep," Ivan nodded, "and what's more, Dumbledore hushed it up. Snape has the old bat wrapped around his little finger." Taking a breath for dramatic effect, Ivan continued, "Apparently, Black tried to kill Snape. It didn't work, but Snape was so mad he put Cruciatus on him. Then, when they were hauled into Dumbledore's office, we thought Snape would be expelled or worse for sure. He managed to come out - scott free - not even a point from Slytherin. Rumor is he blackmailed Dumbledore, knows some little secret, but Snape's not telling us about it. Just like I told you, Dad, he is amazing."

"Is he really?" Rissum mocked, however his eyes betrayed him, they glittered hungrily. "We might just have to invite him to stay these Christmas holidays, then."

Ivan nodded and grinned like a Cheshire cat returning to his meal. Mulciber changed the topic, boasting about a Ministry Official that he had framed using the Imperius curse.

*******

Somewhere in Scotland, 24th December 1976

The wind was howling loudly and the place smelt like death. Death Eaters had gathered atop a beach-side cliff in Scotland. Severus pulled his robes tighter around him - they felt nice on his soft young skin. Hard to describe, they were coloured a shiny black and caressed the skin like satin or silk would, but had a stronger, more serpentine feeling to them. He felt comfortable in these robes; even the mask was unexpected. It didn't feel heavy or constricting and didn't impair his vision. He felt powerful while adorned in these robes.

He gathered with the group. There were about two hundred wizards and witches at this meeting. He pushed forward with Ivan through the crowd. A tight circle was formed in the middle, made of about twenty wizards, who wore a silver rope around their waists and others gathered behind them pushing to get to the front. Severus and Ivan stopped right behind them. Severus tried to look through these wizards to get a glimpse of the Dark Lord but couldn't. The man in front of him had a large cloak that flickered in the strong wind that had started around the group.

He was nervous, though he would never have admitted it, here at last. Ivan grinned stupidly at him as he gestured others in the circle. The wind roared even louder and Severus couldn't hear Ivan who was trying to talk to him.

But, he heard him.

His whisper had stopped the wind. The calm crashed upon the group with fierce intensely. And Severus had to stop himself from falling. Ivan stopped talking immediately.

"Greetings my friends, my Death Eaters, my followers. Feel our pure power here today." His words echoed as he spoke and waves of power washed over the crowd. Severus almost fell forward to the ground feeling an erotic surge right through his body. Ivan grabbed his arm harshly.

"Let me tell you the truth. Let me show you the light. Let me show you the power of a true wizard." Voldemort whispered, as the mutual feelings intensified. The power surged around them in a glorious symphony of crashing lust and beautiful agony. Severus would have screamed in pain-wracked pleasure if he had been able to catch his breath. Instead, he groaned along with the others. He had never felt so alive - It was as if his nerves were melting together. He managed to finally catch a glimpse of the man. He was tall and stood dressed in long dark green robes. Severus etched tentative steps forward. Voldemort's presence radiated power and his eyes were cat like and blood red.

"I take it we stand united under the Dark Mark?" he asked. "I, who have the blood of Salazar Slytherin running through my veins, am here to finish his noble work. To shape a new future for wizard kind, a future for all of us, a future we need to make together, a future determined by the greatest Dark Wizard to have ever graced the planet!"

The crowd started cheering and Severus' body was shaking uncontrollably. Voldemort kept stepping forward and stopped in front of the man closest to Severus and Ivan. Severus caught his eye for a moment as Voldemort looked at them through the crowd.

"I have called you here tonight to witness a new beginning," Voldemort said, "we have new initiates, will they please step forward."

Ivan gave Severus a gentle nudge in the back and he fell through the bigger men in front of him and into the tight circle. He noticed two other men enter the circle as well. The three of them stood before Voldemort. The other two looked much older than Severus - but, it was hard to tell, everyone wore masks.

"Crucio," Voldemort whispered at the new initiates, and they started screaming. Severus felt pain beyond pain; his muscles were tearing themselves from the bone. The two men beside him fell to the ground. Severus was determined to stand upright, even though his aching limbs willed him to the floor. Voldemort lifted the curse and smiled. His lips were wet and seductive. He leant forward to Severus and whispered, "You won't disappoint me, Severus Snape," his s's were hissed and his voice was sweet.

Upon orders, the three knelt before the Dark Lord and drew up their sleeves. Voldemort began with the man furthest from him and the two whispered for a moment before Voldemort drew his wand. Voldemort used his wand to open a scar that crossed the palm of his own hand. He smiled looking at his thick blood ooze into the palm of his hand, flexing his long pale fingers. Severus watched anxiously as Voldemort tipped the blood onto the man's skin. It splattered down on the man's forearm, who held it out steadily to Voldemort. A curse was whispered so quietly Severus almost missed it and the blood moved upon the man's forearm to form a bloody Dark Mark. Severus gasped silently, he could hear the man whimper as Voldemort held his wand to the blood and muttered another incantation, the blood burnt black. The man's arm was smoking and Severus could smell his flesh. There was gasping and screaming, until the man passed out on the ground.

The same process was repeated with the next man and then Voldemort reached Severus. Flicking his eyes to the two fallen bodies beside him Severus was even more nervous. His outstretched arm was shaking and Voldemort would have seen the fear in his eyes as he lent forward and whispered to Severus, "If you are not frightened, I can challenge you. I can free you. You are bound by nothing, until you bind yourself to me."

Severus looked around nervously, unsure of what to say. The Dark Lord's eyes were inviting and sincere. Severus had never felt so wanted before. It was almost lustful.

"You are intelligent boy, are you not obliged to be in my service?" Voldemort seemed impatient and his voice commanding.

"I didn't ask for this," Severus whispered, he tried to think of advice his mother had given him, but her echoes had drowned long ago, Severus never felt more alone. The power he had felt tonight was inviting but he had always been more interested in studying magic's. While he was one of the most advanced in practice of the Dark Arts at Hogwarts he was frightened of their power. He wanted to understand these magic's not fall for their lure. Not be trapped by their beauty. Knowledge was power, and he needed power, needed respect, needed someone to love him.

Voldemort relaxed and spoke gently as if reading his thoughts, "No you were born for it, I can teach you things you only dreamed of, you will stand next to me, I will care for you. Now, Severus, it is your choice. What will it be?" Voldemort asked, his voice soft and understanding. Severus knew that voice was like a poised serpent waiting to strike but he couldn't help feeling so wanted, so invited.

"I want to serve you," Severus uttered, and as soon as he spoke the words he felt free, "You inspire me, you can free me," he whispered sincerely, and bowed to Voldemort's feet.

Voldemort's long thin white fingers brushed gently down Severus's face and Voldemort looked into his eyes provocatively. Severus breath quivered and he felt a sharp charge run through him as Voldemort grabbed his arm, it had stopped shaking now, still with a fierce resolve.

The blood tickled his skin as it rearranged to form the Dark Mark. Severus sighed. Voldemort laughed softly looking down at him. Severus reached his arm up to the Dark Lord. It was then that Voldemort caught his arm as it hung reaching for reason. Voldemort's wand pressed hard into Severus' forearm and he felt his soul being freed. He became dizzy and intoxicated as the Dark Lord burned his mark, it burned to the bone, up the arm, and through his body. Death, blood and flesh never smelt so good.

It took minutes before Severus regained feeling looking though a black haze as everything came slowly back into focus. Voldemort was still standing before him smiling softly. "You're back," he whispered, and it was if he spoke to Severus's soul and he would cast an unforgivable curse on himself to hear it again. But still trapped in ecstasy he just smiled his eyelids dropping and vision blurred. He passed out again.

He had fallen, hook, line and sinker.